I raise my hand a lot in class. The unwritten rule of law school is to avoid being called on at all costs— and here I am voluntarily subjecting myself to scrutiny— so it earns me a lot of strange looks. But it’s actually immensely important to me because it’s important to me to take up space— not physical space, but metaphorical space. I will be heard because I belong here.

I am conscious that women, especially women of color, aren’t expected to talk as much in professional settings. I am conscious when I look around me that there isn’t a single other person who looks like me in the classroom. I am conscious of the expectation that I— as a Brown, Muslim, hijabi, woman of color who is a child of immigrants and a first generation college student— don’t belong in the legal profession.

More than that, when I raise my hand, I am conscious that that expectation almost kept me from applying to law school in the first place.

It is one of the most confounding issues facing many first-year law students.  No, it is not the parol evidence rule or the rule against perpetuities.  (Two bar admissions later, I still haven’t mastered that one.)  It is the first draft of a legal cover letter.  Many students have had very limited experience in composing cover letters prior to law school.  Add to that the fact that the legal cover letter, much like a legal resume, can vary greatly from that of different professions and industries. 

Celebrating diversity in the legal profession and in our lives in general is something we should all strive to do. As a result of this endeavor, we will eventually find ourselves in a discussion about a sensitive subject that we may find uncomfortable. When that happens, try not to let the uncomfortableness sideline the discussion! Below are some strategies you can use to make a conversation about an important or difficult topic a little bit easier.

The Waiting is the Hardest Part

After all the hard work that goes into completing and submitting a law school application, it can be disappointing to find out that you have been waitlisted at one of your top choice schools. Being waitlisted can be particularly troubling for people used to being proactive, so we often get questions about the process moving forward.  Here are some things to keep in mind:

Now that your admissions decisions are rolling in, it is time to get down to the business of selecting your law school.  One of the most important things that you can do to make this important choice is to spend time and visit law schools you are seriously considering.  At most law schools, the opportunities for visitation come in a variety of formats. 

The start of a new year and a new semester gives you a do-over – the opportunity for a fresh start. Here are five resolutions to consider for the year ahead:

To my Seton Hall Law School family…

“And the Word became flesh. and made his dwelling among us,. and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father's only Son, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).  For Christians around the world, Christmas means that God, the Source and Sustainer of all that exists, in a radical act of self-emptying, establishes an irrevocable personal presence in creation through Jesus, the Christ, the Anointed One.

If you are a veteran who is thinking of submitting a law school application, you may be eligible to use your veterans education benefits to help pay for your tuition and other qualified expenses.  In some cases, veteran’s benefits will cover the entire amount of tuition and fees.  Below, I address the answers to the most commonly asked questions.

Law school exams present a unique set of stressors, inducing fear even in the most confident people. When the parade of horribles comes marching in - "I can't do this," "I'll never get all this done," "Everyone is so much more prepared than me," "I don't understand any of this" - stop that procession in its tracks and declare out loud: FEELINGS ARE NOT FACTS. 

This seems to be a question that some prospective law students are asking these days.  In order to answer it, I will try to help you determine what has and hasn’t changed with regards to law school admissions and standardized testing requirements without taking you too far into the weeds of law school accreditation.  There has been quite a bit of discussion and media reports of law schools seeking alternatives to the use of the LSAT.  What is happening?